Condenser tube protector



May 9, 1939. T. J. BJAY CONDENSER TUBE PROTECTOR Filed May 9, 1938 INVENTOR THUMAS J. BAY

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

(Granted under the act of Maren' 3, lass, u ff amended April 3o, 192s; 37o o. G. '151) This invention relates to condenser tubes and it has a particular relation to inserts for preventing the corrosion of the tubes adjacent to their inlet ends by the water passing therethrough.

Modern condenser design makes use of high water velocities in the condenser tubes inorder to secure improved heat transfer rates of the cooling surface and thereby reduce the size of the unit required for a given heat load. 'I hese high water 10 velocities cause the early failure of the inlet ends of the condenser tubes due to impingement erosion and electro-chemical corrosion of the tube material. This action is especially severe in condensers employing tubes which are rolled and exu panded into the condenser header plates, as the cold working of the tube material at the inlet end of the tube serves to weaken it structurally and produce fatigue so that its resistance to the destructive forces imposed by the high velocity of 20 the water entering the tube is reduced.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an insert for the inlet end of a condenser tube, said insert being constructed of a material which is chemically inert with respect 25 to the metal of the tube and condenser header plate, such as rubber or synthetic rubber which possesses high resistance to abrasion in the form of impingement erosion and which seals the juncture of the tube and header plate against the elec- 30 tro-chemical action of the water or other electrolyte passing therethrough.

With these and other objects in view, as well as other advantages that may b incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in 35 the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportion and arrangement without departing from the nature and 4 0 scope of the invention. as defined in the appended claims.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, there are shown in the accompanying drawing, means for carrying the invention into 46 practical use, without limiting the improvements in their useful application to the particular construction, which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the accompanying drawing:

Y 50 Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a condenser tube and condenser header plate showing the improved insert secured in position; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the condenser 56 tube insert;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the insert shown in Fig. 2 as viewed from the right;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing 5 iainother form ot tube insert embodying the inven- Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof. a condenser tube Iil is shown as being secured in a condenser header plate Il the outer or inlet end of the tube being ared as indicated at I2. An insert I3 constructed of a material which is chemically inert with respect tb the metal of the tube and header plate, such as rubber or synthetic rubber, is secured within the inlet end of the tube I0 by cement or by vulcanizing. The outer end of theinsert I3 is ared and curved inwardly as at Il so as to enclose the outer flared end I2 oi the tube so as to effectively seal the juncture of the tube and plate against any electro-chemical action of the water or other electrolyte passing through the tube. 'I'he insert I3 is contoured so as to provide a restricted throat I5 which gradually increases in diameter inwardly lmtil it merges with the diameter of the tube Il. The contour of the throat I5 corresponds substantially to the contraction and enlargement of a stream of water passing through an orifice, thereby minimizing turbulence and the liberation of air from the water and also eliminates impingement erosion and friction loss in the jet of water entering the tube.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a slightly modified form of condenser tube and inserts. In this construction the tube Il terminates short of the outer surface of the heater plate Il, the latter being countersunk, as at I6 to receive a iiared enlargement II of the insert. This provides a flush outer surface and an eiective seal between the water and the metals of the tube and plate.

The rubber from which the insert is fabricated possesses high resistance to abrasion in the form of impingement-emision, chemical inertness with respect to the metal used in condenser construction, is waterproof and has high electrical insulating properties.

rl'he protective tube insert herein described provides a simple and eiective means for protecting the inlet ends of condenser tubes from the destructive forces mentioned and greatly prolongs their service life.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawing comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of the invention, and that mrious changes in the construction,

. prising a tubular insert of resilient material secured in the inlet end of said tube and sufficiently expansible to closely conform to irregularities in the configuration thereof for absorbing the impact of media entering said tube.

2. Means for protecting from erosion the end of a tube extending through a header plate comprising a tubular insert of rubber-like material se- 'cured in the inlet end of said tube and suillciently expanslble to closely conform to irregularities in the conguration thereof for absorbing the impact of media entering said tube.

3. Means for protecting from corrosion the end of a tube extending through a header plate comprising a tubular insert of resilient material secured in the inlet end of said tube and sufficiently expansible to closely conform to irregularities in the configuration thereof for absorbing the impact of an electrolyte entering said tube, said insert having an annular flange at its outer end embracingthe juncture of said tube and plate to exclude said electrolyte therefrom and composed of a material which is chemically and physically lnert with respect to said tube, plate and media at the normal temperature thereof.

THOMAS J. BAY. 

